Two Mexican nationals are in custody after authorities said they confessed to killing an off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent

RAYMONDVILLE — Two Mexican
nationals are in custody after authorities said they confessed to
killing an off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent and wounding the agent’s
father.

Willacy
County Sheriff Larry Spence said Border Patrol agent Javier Vega Jr.,
36, of Kingsville, died of a gunshot wound to the chest and Javier Vega
Sr. of La Feria was hospitalized with a shot to his hip.

Spence said authorities arrested
Gustavo Tijernia, 30, of La Villa and Ismael Hernandez, 40, of Weslaco,
both Mexican nationals from Matamoros, in connection with the Sunday
evening shootings.

The men face charges of capital
murder, attempted capital murder, four counts of aggravated robbery and
tampering with evidence, Spence said.

The Vegas were shot while gar
fishing with the agent’s wife, his mother, two children and another
child in the Santa Monica area off FM 1420 about 3.5 miles east of the
north levee, Spence said, adding the location was “their favorite spot.”